The Discussion Board (DB) is part of the core of online learning. Classroom discussion in an online environment requires the active participation of students and the instructor to create robust interaction and dialogue. Every student is expected to create an original response to the open-ended DB question as well as engage in dialogue by responding to posts created by others throughout the week. At the end of each unit, DB participation will be assessed based on both level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion.

At a minimum, each student will be expected to post an original and thoughtful response to the DB question and contribute to the weekly dialogue by responding to at least two other posts from students. The first contribution must be posted before midnight (Central Time) on Wednesday of each week. Two additional responses are required after Wednesday of each week. Students are highly encouraged to engage on the Discussion Board early and often, as that is the primary way the university tracks class attendance and participation.

The purpose of the Discussion Board is to allow students to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content and the DB question. Because it is not possible to engage in two-way dialogue after a conversation has ended, no posts to the DB will be accepted after the end of each unit.

Assignment Details

There are times when you will give ideas extemporaneously, and there are times when you will have time to carefully plan what you will say. As a professional in business, information technology, or criminal justice, your opinions will carry more weight if you are considered to be a knowledge-focused, thinking, and educated representative in the discipline. Here, you will consider ways to blend and merge your overview of your education, your oversight of your discipline, and a need to be able to represent yourself and your topics in the best light.

Respond to the following questions during this unit's discussion. If you use research to support or explain your answer, be sure to format citations and a reference list according to APA guidelines.

Part A

• What are 3 key things that you would want a mid- or upper-level manager to know about you if you had a chance to make a presentation to him or her?

• Why are the 3 items important to you, and why do you think they would be important pieces of information for your managers?

• If you were going to tell a mid-level manager or senior executive about your own personal history and professional goals in a brief elevator trip, how would you summarize them?

• How might such an elevator speech be of help to you as you move forward?

• Be sure to consider the concepts of speaker, message, audience, and situational awareness as part of your discussion.

Part B

• How do you use and apply the concept of reflective practice in your everyday work and in your career thinking and planning?

• Discuss ways in which your preparation for presentations can make use of the concept of reflective practice.

• How could you use reflective practice, your discipline knowledge, and your understanding of the rhetorical triangle to create an effective, career-related online presence on social media?